Pakistan highly values its longstanding friendship with the Chinese people, according to Riaz Khokhar, Pakistani Ambassador to China.

Khokhar told Xinhua that Pakistani Chief Executive Pervez Musharaf's two-day visit to China from January 17 is to pay its respect to the Chinese people and exchange views of mutual concern with Chinese leaders.

"It has been a tradition between Pakistan and China that leaders of the two countries meet from time to time to discuss and exchange views," he said, adding that the topics to be discussed during the trip range from matters of mutual interest, ways to further strengthen bilateral relations to regional and global developments.

Describing Sino-Pakistani relations as being based on the "time-tested principle of peaceful co-existence", the ambassador said he hopes that Sino-Pakistani relations will be a "strong factor" for peace, stability and progress in the region and the world at large.

Assuming his diplomatic post in Beijing last September, Khokhar has a wealth of diplomatic experience in Asian and European countries. Before he came to China, Khokhar served as Pakistani ambassador to the US for more than two years.

"We highly admire China's achievements over the past decades," said the ambassador, who attended celebrations in Beijing marking the 50th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic and the handover ceremony of Macao's return to China in Macao.

"We wish China greater achievements in the 21st century," he said.

Khokhar said Pakistan is fully confident that China will achieve complete reunification some day in the future, adding that such an occasion will be another cause of celebrations for both the Chinese and Pakistani peoples.

Pakistan supports China's policies on the issues of Taiwan and Tibet. The two countries also share same views on many international matters, he said, adding that Pakistan is grateful to China for its help to Pakistan's economic construction.

"In my small way, I hope that I can make contributions to the further strengthening of Pakistan-China relations," Khokhar said. (Xinhua)